PACT’s mission is to serve Northern Colorado’s bonded human and animal families in need by providing direct services to individuals living with an illness, disability, or socioeconomic/housing insecurity and older individuals in need so that they can care for and keep their pets.
82% of pet owners in Colorado consider their pets family, yet 27% of pet owners have had to give a pet away to another person or animal shelter in their life, often due to difficult life circumstances (AHPC 2023).
These relinquishments not only result in more pets ending up in shelters and/or euthanized, but can also create negative impacts for their human family members.
The health benefits of pet ownership may be particularly impactful for older adults in need and people living with an illness, disability, or socio-economic limitations.
However, these same human populations in need often experience the greatest barriers to being able to keep and care for their pets. Studies suggest that people often delay or forgo receiving the care they need due to their inability to find care for their pets during difficult times.
Ensuring populations in need have access to services to keep and care for their pets during difficult times therefore addresses a critical health equity issue by preserving the human-animal bond.
By ensuring older adults and people living with an illness, disability, housing instability, or other limitations can care for their pets, PACT can help facilitate both human and animal well-being.